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SEOUL, Sept. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- South Korea and Democratic People'sRepublic of Korea
(DPRK) military officials Wednesday agreed to use the roads being built through
the western and eastern areas of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) as new
temporary roads.
The agreement was clinched at the 8th Inter-Korean Military Authorities'
Meeting held Wednesday on DPRK's side in the truce village of Panmumjom.
According to a Communique released by South Korea Ministry of Defense, the
two sides agreed to use two sects of the Gyeongui road and Donghae road as new
inter-Korean temporary corridors whenthe construction work of the two sects
finish.
Before the two sides signing the agreement on passage of the inter-Korean
railways and roads, the new temporary roads will be only used to transport
equipment and materials to the DPRK, the Communique said.
In order to transport necessary equipment and materials the DPRK needs in
the re-linking work, Seoul and Pyongyang opened a western temporary road
parallel to Gyeongui line earlier this year.
Moreover, they opened another makeshift road in the eastern part of the DMZ
to transport South Korean tourists to the DPRK resort Mount Geumgang.
The two sides also agreed to set up a communication hotline line along the
Donghae line within one month this meeting, the communique said.
Militaries of the two sides last year opened a hot line along the Gyeongui
line, which was the first of its kind after the Korean War (1950-1953).
Seoul and Pyongyang earlier agreed to complete construction of Gyeongui
railway and road as well as Donghae road by the end of this year. The Donghae
railway will be re-linked in year of 2004. Enditem
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